Rotary valve



Patented Jp1y27, 1920;

' ATTORNEY R. WEHR.

ROTARY VALVE- APPLlcATIoN FILED MAY 2, 1919.

15, ripheral portion exposed to the gas pressure' UNITED STATES RUDOLPH WEHR, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ROTARY VALVE.

Application filed May 2, 1919. Serial No. 294,232.

of the gases to or from the cylinder. TheV valves of this type ordinarily have a pewithin the cylinder at the time of theexplosion and while the valve is rotating. Much trouble is caused by the wearof the valves, particularly when this wear has increased to such an extent that the gas at the time of compression or explosion may escape between the valve and its casing. l

In my improved construction, I provide an 'adjustable member which presents one surface following the cylindrical surface of the valve and an outer surface curved about a different center laterally disposed -in respect to the axis of the valve. This member although following the contoun of the valve, in effect, constitutes a curved wedge of materially greater thickness at one point than at another so that when it is adjusted circumferentially of the valve, the resulting inward or radial movement of the inner surface toward the valve will be comparatively slight but willbe following said surface and very accurate adjustment may be secured. It is essential that the wedge be so mounted s in respect to the direction of'rotation of the valve that the friction of the latter ends to move the wedge toward its base or thicker end and give increased play to the valve when the latter expands with 'heat or the lubrication proves ineicient. Means are provided which automatically tend to move the wedge toward its edge orx thinner portion so as to maintain a proper fit at all times.

Although my improved construction is particularly adapted for the intake valve, the exhaust valve, or the combined` intake and exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine, yet it will be apparent that it may there is liability of material wear which is IVEHR, a

' to be taken up and where a particularly ti 'ht fit is to be maintained.

n the accompanying drawings to which reference is to be had I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention, although it will be understood that -I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction there shown except as defined in the appended claims. y

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a section through thecylinder head of an engine at right angles to the axis of the valve.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section, the valve being omitted, and,

Fig. 3 is asection similar to Fig. 1 but omitting the valve and-showing a modified adjusting-means. I In the drawings I have shown a cylinder l() having a cylinder head 11 which cooperates with a Casting 1:2 to form a. casing for a rotary valve 13. I In the specific form illustrated, the upper casting or valve casing block 12. has an inlet. port 14 and an exhaust port 'i5 while the cylinder head has a poit 16 communicating with the valve. The valve is of such form that when in one position it'connects the port 16 with the inlet port 14: while in another position it con nectsthe port 16 with the exhaust port 15. The valve is intended to rotate continuously and uniformly at a speed e ual to one fourth the crank shaft speed. /lieirticular valve shown constitutes no portion'of my present invention but it is essential that it rotate in such a direction that the surface engaging the wedge al ways moves toward.

the base-of the wedge.

As an important feature of my invention I` proximately one half the circumference ofthe latter and provided with a port 19 which registers with the port 16. In other words, the member 17 is on the side of the valve toward the cylinder although this is not essential under some circumstances. The lower valve casing member or cylinder head 11 has a substantially semi-cylindrical socket 2O therein, which `corresponds to the eX.- ternal surface of the member 18 although its axis is laterally oifsetin respect to the axis of the valve. In other words, the internal surface of the member 17 is concentric with the Patented July 27, 1920. v

stance, by one or more screw bolts 23 with their heads countersunk as shown.

Between the ends of the two lining members' 17 and 22 there is left a narrow gap or slot 24 on the narrow end of the curved wedge so that as the valve and lining members wear, the lining member 17 may be adjusted circumferentially and inwardly to take up for the wear. Any suitable means may be employed for automatically bringling about the desired adjustment. As shown in Fig. 3, I employ an operating rod 25 slidable in the lower valve cas-ing member l1 land having one end seating in a socket 26 in' the periphery of the member 17. The general direction of the rod 25 is substantially tangential to the valve so that by mov ing the rod endwise, the member 17 is shifted circumferentially. As shown, a coil spring 27 encircles the outer end portionofthe rod 25 and abuts against a shoulder 28 on the rod and an outer cap 29, threaded on aboss 30.. The spring constantly tends to push the rod inwardly andmove the wedge to its innermost position permittcdby wear. By turning the cap 29, the tension of the'spring may be increased or decreasedat will. In Fig. 1, I have shown a rod 31 disposed substantially radially of the valve and'havinga'wedge end 32 acting against a wedge surface at the thicker end of the member 17 The inward radial movement of the rod 31 causes a circumferential movement of the member 17. At the outer` end of this rod, i

I have shown `the lsame automatic adjusting means as I have shown in-connection with the rod 25. f

For asingle cylinder engine any suitable means may be employed for closing the ends of the slot or gap 24 to prevent the escape of any gas lengthwise of the valve. For a multiple cylinder engine I may use one valvev extending along the entire row of cylinders but preferably make the member 17 of sections, one section for eachA cylinder, so that they may be independently adjusted to compensate yfor unevenness or irregularity in wear. The member 17 mayhave peripheral flanges at its extremities or peripheral eX- tensions 33 at the ends of its side edges entering corresponding sockets 34 in the opposed edges of the valve casing lining 12.-

'The sockets may be sufficiently deep to permit. of the circumferential vadjustment of the member 17 but fit so as torprevent any longitudinal movement of the member.17 or any longitudinal flow of gas along the slot or groove 24.

By? means of my improved construction, any wear in the lining member 22 is taken up by the corresponding slight upward movement of the rotary valve, and this upward movement as well as the wear on the inner surface of the member 17 is compen sated for by the circumferential movement of the member 17 and as the latter presents a cylindrical surface following substantially one half the periphery of the valve, a tight and effective seal is maintained at all times and the .escape of gas during the compression and explosion strokes of the piston is prevented even though the valve materially wears. l

The valve rotates in such a direction (counter-clockwise as shown in the drawings) as to constantly tend to move the wedge member toward its base or upper end and by having the wedge member held in place by a spring action, any freezing of the valvel in case of failure of the lubricating system is prevented. Any binding of the valve will automatically move the member 17 back and increase the available space for the valve and thus prevent any binding action.

Although I have' shown the member 22 stationary, and rigidly secured in place, but the 4construction and even the presence of this member is not; an essential to my invention. I

I have not illustrated any means for lubricating' the valve nor have I attempted tov accurately show the proper sizes andpositionsfof the ports.y It will of course be understood that suitable lubricating meanswill be provided and that the ports will be so positioned and of such size aswto accomplish the desired functions for the successive piston strokes of the engine cycle whether the latter be two stroke cycle or four stroke cycle.

Having thus described my invention-what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an engine the combination of al rotary valve having normal rotationin one direction only and a valve casing including a curved wedged member presenting an inner cylindric surface following the contour of the valve and an outer cylindric surface eccentric to the valve aXis and means for insuring a proper running lit during varying operating conditions including means yieldingly resisting but permitting *limited movement of said wedge member circumferentially of the valve toward the larger or base edge of the wedge bythe frictional engagement-of said valve with said wedge'` member during the rotation of said valve.

2. In an internal combustion engine of the rotary valve type, a valve casing including a substantially semi-cylindrical lining member, said member having its inner surface concentric with the valve and its external surface eccentric whereby one edge of said member is materially thicker than the opposite edge, a rotary valve engaging with said member and having a normal rotation with its surface enga-ging with said lining member tending to move the latter toward its thicker or base edge to increase clearance, and'resilient means normally tending to move said lining member toward its narrow edge to decrease clearance.

3. In combination a rotary valvehaving normal rotation in one direction only, a

of greater thickness at .one edge than at the opposite edge, the frictional engagement of said valve with said second mentioned mem-Y ber normally tending tov move the latter'circumferentially of the valve a limited dis# tance to thereby increase clearance of the valve and a spring coperating with said second mentioned member normally tending to resist said movement.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 23rd day of April, A. D. 1919.

RUDOLPH WEHR. 

